Sign-holder.



S. A. MELVIN.

SIGN HOLDER.

APPLICATION TILED APR.7, 191s.

Patented July 7, 1914.

avwzmto'o fiamueZZL/Yelvivt,

'I'HE NORRIS PETERS ((1. PHO'l'D-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. Cv

witmeooao ,nection with both forms SAMUEL A. MELVIN, or MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGN-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July *7, 1914.

Application filed April 7, 1913. Serial No. 759,440.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. MELVIN, citlzen of the United States, residing at Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certam new and usefulImprovements in Sign- I-Iolders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make 7 i on the lower edge of the bar 1 and dependand use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in sign holders and particularly to sign holders for the license number plates of vehicles.

One object of the invention is to provide a sign holder having an improved attaching means whereby the same may be secured to the axle, lamp bracket. or other suitable part of the vehicle, said attaching means being also adapted for engagement with round, oval, rectangular or flat objects.

Another object is to provide a sign holder of the character described having an adjustable attaching means for engagement with different sized objects whereby the holder is supported and by means of which the same may be adjusted for holding a sign at varithebolt 3 and between and facing the lugs ous angles.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an end view partly in section of one form of my improved sign holder showing the manner in which the same isattached to a cylindrical support; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the sign receiving member of the holder and illustrating particularly the gripping lugs and attaching bolt thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable clamping member employed in conof the holder; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a. modified form of the invention; Fig. 5 is an innerend view of the form of the holder shown in Fig. 1 with the clamping members thereof removed.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings wherein is shown the form of the invention when used for attaching a sign holder to the axle of a vehicle 1 denotes the sign receiving member which is in the form ofa bar having a flat outer side and gradually increasing in thickness on its inner side from its ends to the center thereof as shown. In the bar 1 between the center and endsthereof are formed longitudinal slots 2 to receive the bolts or other fastening devices by means of which the sign is attached to the bar. Formed integral with or rigidly secured to the rear side of theybar 1 midway between its ends is a rearwardly extending attaching bolt 3 which is threaded on its outer portion for a suitable dlstance as shown. Also formed ing a suitable distance therefrom are stationary clamping lugs 4 which are offset on their rear edges or project beyond the rear side of the bar 1 and have formed in their offset or rearwardly extending portions notches 5 the lower walls of which incline downwardly whereby the notches arefiared toward their outer ends. The notches 5 when thus constructed provide gripping teeth 6 and 7 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Slidably engaged with the bolt 3 is a movable or adjustable clamping member 8 comprising a sleeve 9 having on one side of its inner end an in wardly extending clamping lug 10 which has a. single tooth standing at an angle to 4. The clamping member 8 is adjusted to co -act with the lugs 4% by a nut 11 which is screwed onto the threaded end of the bolt 3 and thereby forces the adjustable clamping member 8 into engagement with the obj ect to which the holder is applied, thus rigidly clamping the object bet-ween the lug 10 and the lugs 4. A washer 12 is preferably arranged on the bolt between the nut 11 and the outer end of the sleeve 9 whereby the latter is prevented from being worn by the nut. I

In Figs. 4: and 5 of the drawings is shown a slightly modified form of the invention adapted more particularly for attachment with the lamp bracket of a motor vehicle and which comprises a sign receiving bar 13 formed or otherwise rigidly secured at its inner end to the upper end of a right angular attaching shank 14-, said bar 13 being preferably offset or disposed in a slightly different vertical plane from the shank 14: as shown. In the bar 13 are slots 15 which receive the bolts or other fastening devices for attaching a sign to thebar. The slots 15 in the bar 13 and the slots 2 in the bar 1 of the first form of the invention permit signs of difierent lengths to be secured to the bars as will be readily understood. On the inner end of the shank 14 is .a head 16 and against the head 16 is an inner clamp-ing member 18 comprising a sleeve 19 having on one side of its outer end oppositely extend- 1ng ofi'set gripping lugs 20 which project rearwardly at a suitable angle and have formed in their rear sides notches 21 producing teeth 22 and 23. Slidably mounted on I the bolt 17 is an adjustable clamping member 24 comprising a sleeve 25 having on one side of its inner end an inwardly extending and inclined tooth26 which is adapted to coact with the teeth of the clamping member 18 to grip or clamp the lamp bracket or other object to which the device is applied. 1 On the outer end of the bolt is a clamping nut 27 between which and the outer end of the sleeve 25 is a Washer 28. The nut 27 corresponds to the nut 11 in the first form taching device it will be seenthat the holders I maybe rigidly secured to any suitable support and will securely fasten the holder so that the same cannot become loose or rattle.

It will also be seen that by means of the clamping members the holdermay be attached to a vehicle without defacing or in- I claim is:

juring the part to which theholder is attached and when attached in the manner described the holder may be adjusted to different angles for supporting the license number sign.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be-resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what The herein described sign holder comprising a sign-supporting bar, a bolt projecting rigidly therefrom, clamping lugs carried by said bar at opposite sides of the bolt, each having a pair of teeth projecting away from the bar. alongside the bolt and diverging slightly from each other, a sleeve loosely mounted on'the bolt and having a single tooth inclining from the bolt toward the space between said lugs, and anut on the bolt behind said sleeve. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL A. MELVIN. Witnesses: I Y i j WILLIAM M.. TrroMrsoN, HENRY G. PETERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 110. 

